A complaint made against a website, which claims that a ketogenic diet can aid the treatment of cancer, has been upheld.

The complaint was made to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI), which is the representative body for registered dietitians in Ireland, and the Irish Cancer Society (ICS)

The ketogenic diet recommends the consumption of high levels of fat, adequate levels of protein and low levels of carbohydrates. While it has been found to benefit people with certain conditions, such as some types of epilepsy, there is currently no human scientific data to back up claims that it aids the treatment of cancer.

The website is run by nutritional therapist and author, Patricia Daly. Last year, she launched a book, The Ketogenic Kitchen, which was aimed at people with cancer. It was co-authored by chef, Domini Kemp.

Ms Daly's website offers online courses and webinars aimed at cancer patients and those treating people with the disease. She had made a number of claims on the site, including that the ketogenic diet can ‘enhance' a patient's response to conventional cancer treatment and ‘have an effect on tumour markers'.

According to INDI chief executive, Jennifer Feighan, the decision to complain was made in order ‘to protect vulnerable patients'.

"As the only professional body for registered dietitians in Ireland, we took this complaint to the ASAI in the interests of patient protection. The claims made for the ketogenic diet and its benefits to people with cancer are misleading and unsubstantiated. In this case they have also been made by a person who is not suitably qualified to offer dietary advice to people affected by cancer," she explained.

Registered dietitians are health professionals who must undergo a four-year degree specialising in food and nutrition, as well as a period of practical training in hospitals and the community. They are regulated by CORU, which regulates health and social care professionals. CORU aims to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence.

Registered dietitians are the only nutrition professionals that can be employed by the HSE.

Nutritional therapists are not eligible to register with CORU and training courses can differ in length. They provide nutritional advice in private clinic settings. Some may offer nutritional tests such as food intolerance testing or hair analysis, however according to INDI, these are not evidence based within conventional medicine. Some may also offer treatments such as supplements, detox diets, and food exclusions, for which there is little robust scientific evidence.

Products or supplements may also be offered as part of the consultation process. A registered dietitian will not sell nutrition supplements in relation to their nutritional advice in a clinical setting.

"We are acutely aware of the complexity of cancer, the uniqueness of each case and how treatment is based on the individual biology of each patient, but patients themselves and the public are not always aware of this. This makes them vulnerable to advice received on the internet or from well-meaning friends who refer them to unregulated practitioners who are ill equipped to deal with a disease as complicated as cancer," Ms Feigan said.

Meanwhile, the ICS's head of research, Dr Robert O'Connor, expressed concern about the ‘growing tide of unqualified individuals who promote non-evidence based beliefs pertaining to diet and medicine'.

"At best they can be a costly distraction, at worst they have the potential to do huge harm to the most vulnerable in our community. We urge those who have concerns about diet and cancer to speak to their doctor or to a qualified medical professional and not to by taken in by unsubstantiated lifestyle advice from websites or media," he commented.

The INDI/ICS submission was made with the support of several experts in the areas of oncology, medicine and nutrition, including Dr O'Connor, the then-CEO of the Health Research Board, Dr Graham Love, and Dr Derek Power, a medical oncologist at Mercy University Hospital, Cork.

The complaint about the website was upheld by the ASAI, who said that it was ‘concerned by the absence of appropriate levels of authoritative, recognised and compelling research on human clinical trials'.

"In addition, the advertiser, while providing a range of information, had not, as requested, demonstrated how the material submitted supported the advertising claims made... the Complaints Committee were of the view that the content concerned was likely to mislead consumers, and vulnerable cancer patients in particular, regarding the efficacy of the diet as claimed.

"The Complaints Committee told the advertiser not to refer to efficacy of the ketogenic diet in relation to cancer treatment until they held appropriate evidence to substantiate the claim. In addition, without holding an appropriate qualification, claims in relation to advice and/or treatment for serious conditions should not be made," the ASAI added.

To find a registered dietitian, click here